Stand by Me

    Stand by Me
    1986

    Synopsis

    After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four Oregon boys decide to go see the body. On the way, Gordie, Vern, Chris and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.

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    Cast

    • Wil WheatonGordie Lachance
    • River PhoenixChris Chambers
    • Jerry O'ConnellVern Tessio
    • Corey FeldmanTeddy Duchamp
    • Kiefer SutherlandAce Merrill
    • Casey SiemaszkoBilly Tessio
    • Gary RileyCharlie Hogan
    • Bradley GreggEyeball Chambers
    • Jason OliverVince Desjardins
    • Marshall BellMr. Lachance

    Recommendations

    • 100

      Empire

      The entire cast is superb and it so perfectly paced, that the story unfolds with wit, pathos and sensitivity and completely free of emotional shortcuts.
    • 100

      Los Angeles Times

      Stand By Me is the summer's great gift, a compassionate, perfectly performed look at the real heart of youth. It stands, sweet and strong, ribald, outrageous and funny, like its heroes themselves--a bit gamy around the edges, perhaps, but pure and fine clear through. It's one of those treasures absolutely not to be missed.
    • 100

      The Telegraph

      Stand By Me is one of those films that stands up to the test of time. It may never top any critic’s “films of the century” list, like Citizen Kane, or Raging Bull, but it has a charm and depth that seems to resonate with each generation.
    • 90

      Time Out London

      The Ben E King theme song and all the imagery of tousled adolescents preening themselves like miniature James Deans rekindle memories of old jeans commercials, but the film is so well-observed and so energetically acted by its young cast that mawkishness is kept at bay.
    • 88

      ReelViews

      The richness of its tapestry, densely woven from human emotions and character interaction, ensure it will never lose that relevance.
    • 83

      Entertainment Weekly

      Rob Reiner’s film is all about the journey, not the destination. And all of his young actors are great — Wheaton as the sensitive narrator, Feldman as the slightly crazy wild card, and especially Phoenix as the tough-yet-tender doomed soul.
    • 80

      Time

      Stand By Me is a shuck. It trumpets its sensitivity while reveling in coarseness. And at its climax it suggests that manhood can be found through the barrel of a gun. Maybe this is how Rambo discovered puberty. Maybe real kids should be discouraged from following his example.
    • 80

      IGN

      Stand by Me is easily one of the best Stephen King adaptations and one of the best coming-of-age stories ever made.

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